3 Months Post Tummy Tuck: Now 5 Weeks Pregnant - is There Any Risk Involved?

I agree with previous posts:  there is no reason to terminate your pregnancy following a tummy tuck. 

I know of no risk to you or the child by carrying your pregnancy to term following a tummy tuck.  While your cosmetic result may be compromised by this pregnancy, and you may desire a revision after the birth of your child, there is no reason to terminate your pregnancy.

Additionally, I recommend that you wait at least 9-12 months following the birth of your child before considering a revision tummy tuck.  This will allow your uterus and skin to contract as much as possible, ensuring the best results possible post tummy tuck revision.

Jaime Perez, M.D.

Tummy Tuck Specialist in Tampa, Florida

Plastic Surgery Center of Tampa, Florida

The only risks associated with your unexpected pregnancy are with the medications you took (e.g. painkillers), if you took them for a longer period of time after your surgery, and this time overlapped with the time you were pregnant. I would recommend you talk to your surgeon as your OBGYN suggested. 

Your prior tummy tuck should not affect your pregnancy and not pose significant additional risks. In other words this should not be a reason to terminate a desired pregnancy.

There are no contraindications for pregnancy after a tummy tuck. With your pregnancy, your abdomen will stretch as before without harm to your baby. With any pregnancy the abdominal muscles will stretch, skin will stretch, and there may be new stretch marks. You might need to have another tummy tuck afterwards.

Most plastic surgeons would agree that pregnancy following tummy tuck does not pose any medical risk to you or your baby, and at three months post-op your abdomen should be completely healed.  As you mentioned, there will be some degree of cosmetic change to your abdomen, though the extent cannot be predicted in advance.  You should definitely pursue this further with your plastic surgeon, and have your surgeon clarify whether the recommendation to terminate the pregnancy is based on medical risk or a potential cosmetic issue.  If it is based on medical risk, it would be reasonable to ask your surgeon for references supporting the recommendation, which you could then review with your physicians.  This should help you to make an informed decision.

Best of luck.

My response to your question/post does not represent formal medical advice or constitute a doctor patient relationship. You should continue to follow-up with your plastic surgeon in order to receive formal evaluations and maintain your doctor patient relationship.